Any sign or wind/rain and mine have one on. I dont find getting them warm the problem, keeping them warm when they are cooling down is. Thats the time when they are going to catch a chill, I find it helps greatly.
I do. I use a rain sheet type if its rainy / snowy and a fleecey one for warming up in the cold.
But my horse does really feel the cold and despises rain and he's a bit older so doesnt freak out about me taking them off / putting them onwhile Im onboard, so its no real hassle for me. I can see why people with something more spooky wouldnt bother with them
Rain one for hacking to keep his bum dry so that when we get back i can rug him if need be. Wont schooling as it causes more troubles when your asking quite alot of your horse and you have it flapping around and him sweating under!
Yes when hacking in the winter as its fleecy lined but has a flourescent yellow waterproof outer so kills 2 birds with one stone. Don't for schooling though.
My horse really suffers from cold muscles, although he's quite warm under his rugs. I've got a brilliant Lansdown 1/4 sheet that just fixes on the girth and keeps his 1/4s warm, it's lined with that crinkly foil stuff that explorers use so reflects the body heat back. He's fully clipped. Also have fluorescent waterproof 1/4 sheet which I always use if it's wet and/or I'm going on the roads. I put the lansdown one on for a few minutes at the start of schooling if it's really cold, and also use it for hacking.
i have to say im quite suprized by this, As soon as Mouse is fully clipped i always hack out in one and i also warm her up in one for schooling, i have the mark todd wrap around ones one waterproof and a fleece one and if it's cold and wet for hacking i use both, i don't go on roads so i don't have a reflective one.
I always use one when warming up. My horse is fully clipped and I think it must be a huge shock to go from HW rugs to no rugs at all when being ridden.
We always used to put one on Will in the winter as once he was clipped - used to feel the cold really quickly. Turned out with underrug, rug and then a turnout on top.
No but then I always leave the back on my horse when clipped (usually chaser or blanket clip) as I don't work them enough to warrant a full clip and feel that this layer of hair keeps the major quarter muscles warm enough during warm up and cooling off. If fully clipped then I would use a quarter sheet to ensure muscles are adequately warm.
Mostly no but have a rain sheet in case it gets really bad.
I saw an unclipped cob out the other day in a newmarket wool rug and it was lathered, felt like stopping her and saying it was not a great idea!!
I have a fleece one and a waterproof one. Use them for warming up / standing about at winter competitions and also at home on my thin skinned clipped TB. The other clipped guys get hot so quick I dont bother when schooling them.